Type-writing machine



F. W. STAHL.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mzo JAN.24. 1911.

1,312,760. Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

non/m.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. STAHL, 0F DENVER, COLORADO.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

Continuation of application Serial No. 879,842, filed December 31, 1914. This application filed January 24, 1917. Serial No. 144,154.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK V. STAHL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Denver, county of Denver, and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Type-lVriting Machines, of

of the invention are to increase the length of the pivot or bearing shaft of each typebar, and at the same time reduce the length of all type-bars by reducing the diameter of the supporting segment to which the type-bars and hangers are secured, thus materially increasing the strength of these parts and adding to the speed and ease of action of the machine; to provide means by which the type, in a shift or double-type machine, may lie on the type-rest without clashing, permitting the use of a heavier type-shank than usual, all type-bars being maintained the same length, or approximately so; and to provide means by which each type-bar and its hanger may be separately removable from the machine, and adjustable for alinement, without disturbing any other type-bar and hanger, with provision for taking up any wear 111 the bearings of the typebar as it may occur and without removing any hanger and type-bar from the machine for this purpose.

To the above and other ends, which will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the features of construction, combinations of devices, and arrangements of parts tobe herein specified and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a topplan View of a. front stroke type-writer, showing the segmental support with a plurality of sets of type-bars and hangers mounted thereon in the middle portion of said'seg-ment only, the other sets being omitted to curtail the drawings;

Fig. 2 is an end view of a set of three type-bars and hangers on the line m-:.c, looking in the direction of the arrow at sald line, and including a diagrammatic showing of the platen;

Fig. 3 is a detail showing the form of hanger and type-bar used at the left-middle of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a detail showing the form of hanger and type-bar used at the right-middle of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a rear view of a portion of the segment showing a set of three hangers and type-bars and the way the hangers overlie each other;

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the form of the three hangers separated from their grouping of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 isa view similar to Fig. 6 showing another form of my invention.

1 indicates the supporting segment for the hangers and type-bars. On this segment and extending radially or at a right-angle are arranged series or groups ofhangers 2, 3, 4 and 5, each group consisting of three hangers, carrying type-bars 6, 7, and 8, respectively, normally resting on type-rest 9. The hangers are U-shaped in general form, as shown in Figs. 3 to 7, and are Set substantially in alinement in groups of three, preferably, Fig. 5, but more if desired, and separated by washer-plates 10, between each two hangers of the groups or series, and covered by a washer-plate 11, the groups of three hangers being secured to the segment, preferably, by the single fastening screw 12. I have shown the hangers in groups of three; but, certain features of the hangers adapt them for use singly or in groupings of two or more, as will be readily understood by one skilled in the art. The hangers 13, 14:, 15, Figs. 5 and 6 are differently formed, 13 and 15 having their forward ends, in which the type-bars are pivoted, offset in opposite directions so as to provide the parallel, forward ends 13 and 15 respectively, while the central hanger 14 is devoid of' offset; and, when the hangers are grouped as shown in Fig. 5, the hanger 14 has its parallel, pivot-carrying ends li arranged alternately with the offset ends ofthe other two hangers. At the center, Fig. 1, however, in order to economize space for type and type-bars, I have made the outer hangers 16 of adjacent groups with one side offset inwardly as at 16 the straight sides of said hangers being adjacent. This also provides for uni form spacing of the typebars throughout the series of groups, this being contributed to also by giving to the type-bars of said hangers a slight offset 8. This also enables me to shorten the pivots and strengthen the construction. Each hanger, at its free ends, supports a pivot 17. The washer-plates 10, 11, are provided with holes for allowing the fastening screw 12 to pass clear through the entire group and are, preferably, made to extend over several groups of hangers, thus binding the groups and the units of the groups more firmly together, and permitting any single hanger with its type-bar to be removed without disturbing any other,,or allowing the washer-plates to loosen in case any single screw 12 is removed, the other screws still holding the plates in position and consequently holding all other hangers firmly in place. The two arms of each of the hangers may be held together by a tiebar 18, which may be riveted in, or may be an ad usting screw having a nut head or slotted head, or other device, so that any wear may be taken up by drawing the two free ends of the hanger together by using a thin wrench or other tool adapted to turn said screw without taking the hanger out of the machine, in a manner well known in the art. The type-bars are mounted on the pivots 17 which are preferably cone-shaped at the ends, having hearings in like depressions in the arm of the hangers, the typebars 6, 7 and 8 being mounted upon the pivots of their respective hangers substantially in the middle line of said pivots. However, whether the type-bars are mounted precisely in the middle of their pivots, in order to secure the even spacing of said bars about the segment, depends upon the degree of offset of the arms of the hangers l3 and 15. The pivots of the type-bars are arranged in each group in difierent vertical planes, and at a slight angle to each other in both planes. This insures proper alinement of the type and striking of the type at the common printing point on the platen 19, and also enables the type-bars to be evenly spaced or spaced closer to, or farther from, each other. The type-bar 6 in each group or series, has a curve or bend in it, as at 20, Figs. 1 and 2, sufficient to carry it over the pivot of the type-bar 7, and the type-bar 7 has a similar curve or bend 21, sufficient to carry it over the pivot of typebar 8. The type-bars are each actuated by a pullwire, as at 22, Fig. 2; but, the pullwires may operate forward instead of backward, or the type-bars may be actuated by any other device known in the art. The hangers are substantially in alinement at their looped o1- securing ends; but, it is not necessary that the type-bars should be set on their pivots in the order named, nor that the hangers should be mounted or grouped as described. That is to say, the inner and outer hangers 13 and 15 are interchangeable and may be reversed, this enabling the one to be placed in the position of the other; and the hangers may have a different relative grouping, the middle hanger being set in place of the inner hanger and the outer one in place of the middle hanger, and the inner hanger being made the outer hanger. ghese are lmportant features of my inven- 1on. It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to three hangers, since it is within the scope thereof to provide more than three in the group of serles, this num ber, however, being the minimum under. and n accordance with, the structure embodying one form of my invention. The type bars are substantially the same length. from pivot to hole drilled for type, the use of three rows of pivots and type-bars enabling the large type on a shift-machine to lie on the type-rest without interfering, as the type of the forward row are brought sufiicientlv far forward to clear those of the adjacent rear row, especially where the sides of the segment are approached, and the type lie at an angle to the line of the type-bar, be- 111g more or less crosswise of the type-bar. As the sides of the segment are approached, where, on account of the large type of a shift machine turning at a progressively greater angle to the line of the type-bar, more room must be taken at the type-end than at the hanger-end 0f the type-bar, in order to effect the greatest shortening of the type-bar by the use ofa segment of as small dlameter as possible, instead of using a wider hanger toward the sides of the segment or separating the sets of hangers by a greater space, as is commonly done, I have kept the hangers of uniform width and set them as close together as possible all the way around, and to get the additional room needed at the type end, the bars may be fanned, as is well understood in the art. Such fanning will in no way alter the uniform direction of the pull-wire on the side type-bars, since their pivots lie in the same plane as those in the middle of the segment. In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 7, the offsets 23 0f the arms of the inner and outer hangers 13, 15, respectively, are much less than in the form of my ingention shown in the other figures, and, with this construction, it is found advisable to place the type-bars 6 and 8, respectively, on their pivot-pins 17 more or less off-center, in order to space the type-bars evenly around the segment. The degree of the offsetting 23 of the hanger arms will control the degree of the Off-center setting of the type-bars 6 and 'i", as willbe readily understood. attributable to this form, over the form of Fig. 6,which will be clear to anyone skilledcanbe utilized in the understrokein. order to set in the same numberof type-bars and hangers in this limited space it has heretofore been necessary to considerably shorten the pivotal bearing for -"each-type-bar as well as employthe arc'of a larger circle of type-bars, thus lengthening the type-bar, in Thus,

order-t-o' get room for themat all. much has been lost in both directions over the construction formerly used in the best under-stroke machines. In my construction, Ifhave succeeded in adding a third row of hangers and pivots, on which are mounted typebars,tothe tWo rowsnow'in use; The practical effect of this is to increase the assembling area for the hangers and type-bars of any-given-a'rc of a segment by fifty per cent.,'and thusI am enabled to give a longer pivotto'each bar, as well asuse the segment of a smaller circle than-would otherwise be possible, thus reducing the length of the type-bar. It will be noted that each typebar of the three rows in the-machine has as long a pivot as-though only a single row had been u'se'd,notwithstanding no greater are has been employed for the segment, and that the pivot is approximately fifty per cent. longer than if but two rows were employed, 'an'd the same number'of hangers required'to be set in the'same segmental arc; The wider bearing gives far greater stability to the alinement, a given amountof wear at the pivot not permitting as much play and variation at the type as with the'narrower bearing. Likewise, the shorter typebar does not show the'same amount of variation atthe type-as the longer one, with'the sainewear and width of bearing. Furthermore, the 'shorter-t'ype-bar' adds greatlyto the ease of action of-the' machine, and permits of heavier stock being used to give the requisite rigidity to'the bar so necessary for the best quality of impression from the type, without making the-action of -the-- machine unduly heavy. The longer type-bar heretoiore used inthis classof'machines'has made the action so heavy that the "stock-has been cut down to-avoidthis as much as possible, with disastrous results to the quality of the impression. And," furthermore, the shorter type-bar acts with greater speed than the longer one, thus adding materially to the speed of the machine, and for the same rea- There are a number-of advantages soiij-thatthe. shorter type-barwill get up to. the platen andback to :the type-rest more quickly than the longer one, there is less liability of collisions of the type-bars in rapid writing, especially of adjacent typebars whose-letterscome together in words. The number ofmthese combinations is far greater in .thefront stroke visible than in the old understroke blind machines, hence the importance of reducing this liability to the minimum; lVith only two rows of hangers and-pivots, it has been economical of room, at the type .rest,1, to vary the lengths of the type-bars of each row, so that the type will all fall in the'same-plane at the type-rest; but this has necessitated the use of a smaller and weaker type-shank than used in the best understroke machines. The different lengths of type-bars, moreover, give anuneven action to the machine. In my construction, the type-bars are all substantially of the same length and give a uniform action, and provide room for the larger type-shank formerlyused, with no clashing of the type at the rest, owing to the fact of the forward row of type passing wellbeyond the adjacent back row., Also, anadditiona'l advantage of the type falling in different lanes on the type-rest is that it permits a greater degree of bending of most of the type-bars at their ends, or near them, for alinement, without interfering with the adjacent type-baror type, owing to the fact that the end ofa type-bar in the middle row extends out beyond the type of the back row,'and the end of a bar in the front row extends out beyond the type in the middle row. Thehangers are of a strong construction, with the adjusting-screw in line with the bearing 'and adj'ustable in the machine forrwear, and any single type-bar and its hanger may be removed from the machine without removing any other, or a fasteningscrew'12 maybeslightly loosened and any hanger'of any set of threemoved slightly for alining without disturbing the alinement of the-other two. I

- Havingthus described my invention, what Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s 1. In av typewriting machine, in combination, asegmental support; a set of three or more hangers arranged in alinement at an angle to said support; means for securing the hangers to thesaid support; a type-bar pivotally mounted in each of the hangers; and said hangers having their type-bar supporting ends arranged in staggered relation, so as-z'to support the type-bars in substan tially parallel planes.

2. In a typewriting machine, in combina- -'tion,-a segmental support; a series of threeor more hangers arranged in alinement at an angle to said support; a type-bar pivotally mounted in each hanger; means for securing the hangers together and to said support in cooperative relation; said hangers having their type-bar supporting ends out of registry and in different horizontal planes.

3. In a typewriting machine, a series of three or more independent hangers having their outer fastening portions one over the other substantially in alinement, but With their inner bearing arms arranged in staggered relation to each other; type-bars pivotally mounted in said hangers, said typebars being substantially the same length and their type ends being disposed in staggered relation; a segmental support; and means for securing said hangers to said support in the grouped relation stated.

l. In a typewriting machine, a series of three or more independent and separable type-bar hangers having outer fastening portions set one directly over another and substantially in alinement, and their inner bearing arms formed so as to give a staggered arrangement in the series; type-bars pivotally mounted in said bearing arms and being substantially the same length and having their type ends disposed in staggered relation; Washers separating adjacent hangers of the series; a washer over the outermost hanger; a segmental support; and means for securing said hangers to said support.

5. In a typewriting machine, a series of three or more independent and separable type-bar hangers having outer fastening portions set one directly over another" and substantially in alinement, and their inner bearing arms formed so as to give a staggered arrangement in the series; type-bars pivotally mounted in said bearing arms and being substantially the same length and having their type ends disposed in staggered relation; washers separating adjacent hangers of the series; a washer over the outermost hanger; a support; and a single means passing through all said hangers and washers and cooperating therewith to secure them to the support. I

6. In combination with the segmental typebar support of a visible typewriting machine, a platen arranged above said support in position to receive the impact of the type; a series of groups of independent and separable type-bar hangers, each group composed of three or more hangers arranged in alinement and set at an angle to said support; a type-bar pivotally mounted in each hanger; means for securing the hangers of each group to the said support in alined relation; and the type-bar supporting ends of the said hangers of each group being arranged in staggered relation.

7. In a typewriting machine, a plurality of hangers grouped in series, and having their outer fastening portions substantially in alinement, and their inner bearing portion-s arranged in staggered relation to each other; type-bars pivotally mounted in said hangers; Washers separating adjacent hangers of the series; a washer over the outermost hanger; a segmental support; and means for securing said hangers to said support.

8. In a typewriting machine, a plurality of hangers grouped in series, and having their outer fastening portions substantially in alinement, and their inner bearing portions arranged in staggered relation to each other; type-bars pivotally mounted in said hangers; washers separating adjacent hangers of the series; a washer over the outermost hanger; a segmental support; and a single securing device for fastening the hangers to said support.

9. In a typewriting machine, a plurality of groups of separable and independent type-bar hangers, the hangers in each grou having their outer fastening ortions substantially in alinement, and their inner bearing arms arranged in staggered relation to each other; a type-bar pivotally mounted in each hanger; washers separating adjacent hangers in the several groups; a washer over the outermost hanger of each group; a segmental support; and means for securing said hangers to said support.

10. In a typewriting machine, a plurality of hangers grouped with their outer fastening portions substantially in alinement and their inner bearing arms arranged in staggered relation to each other; type-bars pivotally mounted on said bearing arms in varying positions between the sides thereof; Washers separating adjacent hangers of the group; a Washer over the outermost hanger; a segmental support; and means for securing said hangers to said support.

11. In a typewriting machine, a group of independent and separable type-bar hangers, the latter having their outer fastening portions set one over the other substantially in alinement, and their inner bearing arms arranged in staggered relation to each other; type-bars pivotally mounted on the bearing arms in Varying positions between the sides thereof, said type-bars being substantially the same length and having their type ends disposed in staggered relation; Washers separating adjacent hangers of the group; a washer over the outermost hanger; a segmental support; and means for securing said hangers to said support.

1 FRANK W. STAHL.

Copies of this patent niay be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O." 

